Journalists and media experts on Sunday said that dialogues between political parties and journalists were needed for a professional media industry.
They also said that journalists should uphold their position as journalists instead of having a partisan role.
They made the remarks at a discussion tilted 鈥楳edia Reform Commission report and overall situation鈥� organised by Broadcast Journalist Center at the Daily Star Centre at Farmgate in the capital Dhaka.
National Consensus Commission vice-chairman professor Ali Riaz, Daily Ittefaq executive editor Salehuddin, Bangladesh Nari Sangbadik Kendra vice-president Munima Sultana, senior journalist Hasnain Khurshed, Dhaka Union of Journalists president Md Shahidul Islam and Dhaka Reporters Unity general secretary Mynul Hasan Sohel, among others, spoke at the event chaired by Broadcast Journalist Center chairman Rezwanul Haque Raza.
BJC executive Milton Anwar presented the keynote paper at the event, which reviewed the Media Reform Commission Report.
Ali Riaz said that the media industry needed professional assessments, independence and professionalism.
鈥楾he media industry needs holding immediately dialogues between political parties and journalists to have promises about this sector from the parties. Basic safety training for journalists is not implemented by the media houses although a lot of organisations work for journalists鈥� rights,鈥� Ali Riaz said, adding that politicians should discuss their policy on media issues.
He also said that if the media houses were not profitable, why they were running their operations by not giving the journalists proper salaries and other benefits. 鈥業t鈥檚 the time to raise the question,鈥� he said.
Munima Sultana said that it was needed to ensure safety in the workplace for women journalists while the broadcast journalist issues were not discussed elaborately in the reform commission.
Hasnain Khurshed said, 鈥楢 good editor produces good journalists and media houses with a low salary cannot ensure good journalism.鈥櫬犅�
He also said that the industry needed financial protection and a new wage board should be declared immediately for broadcast journalists.
Rezwanul Haque Raza alleged that the Media Reform Commission report was not a priority to the information ministry and the government was now reviewing the previous laws instead of the new proposals given by the reform commission.